Cigar and cigarette lighter



Sept. 17, 1935. E. M. soRENG CIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed June 9, 1935 ima/Mz Eiga/"M 5521927 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 Uiii'i`- STATS Malt Edgar M. Soreng,

Chicago,

lill., assigner to Soreng-ll/[anegold Company, Chicago, lll., a

corporation ci illinois Application `lune 9, 1933, Serial No. 674,998

i4 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electrical cigar and cigarette lighters and has as a general object to provide an improved lighter of th-e type having a loose con- 5 veniently handled igniter unit capable of being passed around as an ordinary pocket lighter after being electrically energized or heated by temporary connection with a pair of electrically live terminals.

More speciically, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved. igniter unit of the character described, which will retain its heat longer and by reason of its novel construction, insures a quicker transfer of heat to the cigar or cigarette to be lighted.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved manner of connecting the lighter unit with a source of electrical energy.

A further object oi this invention is to provide a neat compact combination of an igniter unit of the nature donned and a supporting receptacle wherein the igniter unit, when not in use, is supported in a position from which it is only necessary to depress the same slightly to eiect its con neetion with a source of electrical energy.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly denned by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment oi the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best inode I have so ar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the igniter unit;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in section of the supporting receptacle ior the igniter unit;

Figure 3 is a cross section view through Figure 2 on the plane of the line 3 3;

'Figure 4 is a plan view of the igniter unit showing more clearly the arrangement of the heater element; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged section View taken through Figure 4 on the plane oi the line 5-5.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the nu- (Cl. 2MB-32) meral 4 designates generally the base or body of an igniter unit having a handle portion 5 and a heating element d, which is preferably a coil of resistance wire adapted to be brought to a state of incandescence. For this purpose, the resist- 5 ance wire is adapted to be connected with a. source oi electrical energy, but the connection is only temporary and is effected without wires or other permanent electrical connections to the igniter unit in a manner to be later described. Conse- 10 quently, the igniter unit is free and may be readily passed around or used as an ordinary pocket lighter as long as the heater coil retains suihcient heat.

The base or body l of the igniter unit is formed 15 of a flat piece of insulating material with its end portion "l opposite the handle part ii out away as at i3 to dei-lne a chamber Within which the resistance element 5 is disposed. The opposite sides of this chamber are closed by thin walls 9 formed 20 of mica or similar electrically insulating material.

The Walls 9 are retained in place by metal side frames lll secured to opposite sides oi the end portion l. These side frames i@ have lateral iianges il on three sides thereof to overlie 25 the edges of the mica walls 3, and the adjacent outer Walls oi the body portion i. The fourth sides of the frames l@ have no lateral iianges and as best shown in Figure 4, project into a groove i2 completely encircling the end portion 30 'l of the supporting body at its juncture with the handle part 5. The adjacent ends of the lateral flanges i l also project into this groove. The side frames it are thus securely retained against iiatwise movement away from the body end por- 35 tion l.

Endwise movement of the side frame Hl is precluded by rivets i3, which are received inl holes Eil through corner bosses l5 formed as an integral part of the body end portion "l, and each 40 of which passes through a hole formed in one of the side frames.

Inasmuch as the side frames are electrically disconnected, and as each rivet I3 contacts but one frame, the frames afford external terminals 45 for electrically connecting the resistance wire 6, which has its ends attached to the rivets I3, with a source of electrical energy.

The specic manner oi making this electrical connection between the resistance coil ends and 50 the rivets is, of course, immaterial, but if desired, it may be made in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. As here shown, the ends ci the resistance Wire are looped about and preferably soldered to the rivets between the insulating 55 Cil body and metal Washers I6 positioned inwardly of the mica Walls 9.

As best shown in Figure 3, the resistance coil G is Wound about an inner sheet of mica or other suitable insulating material Il and arranged in a zig-zag fashion so that a plurality of lengths of the coil are located at each side of the unit. The diameter of the coil is such that it contacts directly with both side Walls 0, thus insuring rapid heat transfer by conduction to a cigar or cigarette held against either Wall 9. To further increase the rapidity oi the heat transfer, the side Walls 9 are perforated as at I8.

The heater element or wire coil of the igniter unit is connectable with a source of electrical energy by engaging the two side frames I0, which serve as its terminals With live terminals I9 and 2M. The terminals I9 and 2D are mounted in a supporting housing indicated generally by the .numeral 2|, and are connectable With a source of electrical energy through conductor wires 22.

The supporting housing or casing 2| not only forms an enclosure for the terminals, but also provides a convenient receptacle for the igniter unit when the same is not in use. It comprises a shell of insulating material 23 of any desired design or conffuration and ornamented on its outer walls if desired. Closing the open top of the shell 23 is a top plate 24 having a rectangular opening 25 through which the igniter unit is inserted, the opening being of such size as to hold the igniter unit against any but endwise movement.

The top plate 24 supports a box-like inner housing 26 also formed of insulating material and on the bottom of which the terminals I 9 and 20 are mounted, one near each side Wall of the housing 26, see Figure 2. The interior of the box-like inner housing 26 is substantially a continuation of the opening 25 in the top plate M and is of such depth that when the igniter unit is disposed therein, only its ornamented hanldle part 5 projects from the receptacle.

When disposed Within the receptacle, the unit is supported on the terminal 2U, which projects above the terminal I9. Consequently, the terminal I9 is not engaged by the igniter unit and no current flows through its heater coil.

To engage the igniter unit with the terminal i9, it is merely necessary to press the same down into the receptacle, the terminals and particularly the terminal 2l), being `.Formed of spring metal to permit such depression of the igniter unit. As before stated, the igniter unit is held against all sidevvise or twisting movement When disposed in the receptacle and as the terminals are located near opposite sides of the chamber into which the unit is inserted, depression of the unit into the receptacle results in the engagement of one terminal with each of the metal frames i9 of the igniter unit, thus -electrically bridging the terminals I9 and 20 through the resistance coil.

The terminals I9 and 2d may be formed by the outer upturned ends of angularly shaped spring metal members, the opposite ends of which. are riveted to the under surface of the bottom wall ci the inner housing as at 2l With the terminals proper projecting upwardly through apertures 28. The rivets 2 also provide contact terminals to which the conductors 22 are soldered, the conductors being brought into recesses 29 in the bottom Wall of the inner housing which are closed by a guard plate 30 secured to the bottom Wall of the inner housing by a rivet As hereinbefore noted, the igniter unit when not in use is disposed in the receptacle and rests on the longer terminal il@ out of contact with the terminal IQ. When it is desired to use the igniter unit, it is first depressed so that contact is established between the terminal lil and its respective side Wall ill, whereupon current ilows 'through the resistance coil causing it to heat up. The igniter unit is then removed from the receptacle and as the resistance coil retains its heat for a substantial period of time, the unit may be used as any ordinary electrical pocket lighter and being unencumbered by conductor wires, may be passed around from one user to another.

What I claim is my invention is:

1. An igniter of the character described, comprising an easily handled relatively flat member u of insulating material having an opening entirely therethrough to define a chamber, a coiled electrical resistance Wire arranged in a flat plane Within said chamber, vvalls closing the opposite sides of said chamber, said walls being formed of a dielectric material and lying directly adjacent the coiled electrical resistance Wire to afford rapid heat transfer by conduction to an object engaged with either Wall, and means on the exterior oi" said supporting body electrically connected with the ends of the coiled resistance Wire and adapted to be held against live electric terminals to cause current to lovv through said coiled resistance Wire.

2. An igniter of the character described, comprising a relatively flat member having an opening transversely therethrough to denne a heater chamber, a length oit electrical resistance Wire disposed Within chamber, dielectric Walls closing the opposite sides or" said chamber and lying in close proximity to said resistance Wire to rapidly conduct heat from said resistance wire to an object held against either Wall, a metal frame engaged over each of said walls to hold the same in place, and means to connect one end of said length of resistance wire with one frame and the other end with the other frame, whereby the engagement of said frames with two spaced live terminals of an electrical circuit causes current to flow through said length ci resistance wire.

3. An igniter of the character described comprising, a relatively flat supporting body of insulating material having opening transversely therethrough to define a chamber, a heating unit Within said chamber comprising a coil of resistance wire mounted on a` flat insulating support so that a plurality of lengths of said coil are disposed on each side of said insulating support, dielectric walls closing the opposite sides of said chamber and retaining said heater unit in place, said Walls being in close proximity to the coil of resistance Wire to afford rapid heat transfer to an article .held against either of said Walls, a metal frame overlying each of said dielectric walls, and means to electrically connect one of said metal frames with each end of said coil of resistance wire, whereby engagement of said metal frames With live electric terminals connects the coil in a circuit to cause the same to be heated.

4. An igniter unit or the character described, comprising a flat member of .insulating material having a transverse opening therethrough and a grooved shoulder extendiirT transversely thereabout, heater means Within said chamber comprising a fiat sheet of insulating material tted Within said chamber, a coil of electrical resistance Wire wound on said iat sheet to have portions thereof lying on opposite sides of the sheet, dielectric walls closing the opposite sides of said chamber to retain the heater means in place and lying in close proximity to the coil of resistance wire, a metal frame engaged over each of said dielectric walls, the inner ends of said frames being received in said groove whereby said irames are held against flatwise movement away 'from the opposite sides of said at member, securing means to hold said frames against endwise shifting, one of said securing means passing through and electrically contacting one frame and the other securing means passing through and electrically contacting the other frame, and the ends of said coiled resistance wire being electrically connected with said securing means, whereby the metal frames afford external terminals for the resistance coil to enable the coil to be connected with a source of electrical energy.

5. An igniter of the character described comprising a handle member, an electrical resistance element in the form of a length of coiled wire, a flat supporting member about which the resistance element is wound with portions thereof on opposite sides of the supporting member, means to mount said supporting member trom the handle member with the resistance element portions at opposite sides thereof accessible for use, and means to connect the resistance element with a source of electrical energy to cause the resistance element to heat up.

6. An igniter of the character described comprising, a member having an opening transversely therethrough to denne a heater chamber, a length. of electrical resistance wire disposed within said chamber, dielectric walls closing the opposite sides of said chamber and lying in close proximity to said resistance wire to rapidly conduct heat from said resistance wire to an object held against either wall, a metal frame engaged over each of said walls to hold the same in place, and means to connect one end of said length of resistance wire with one frame and the other end with the other frame, whereby the engagement of said frames with two spaced live terminals of an electrical circuit causes current to ilow through said length of resistance wire.

'7. An igniter of the character described, comprising a body member having a chamber to receive a heater element, a length of electrical resistance wire disposed in said chamber, a dielectric wall closing one side of the chamber and lying in close proximity to said resistance wire to rapidly conduct heat from said resistance Wire to an object held against said dielectric wall, a pair of spaced metal elements mounted on said body member, one of said metal elements being disposed over the dielectric wall to hold said wall to the body member over the chamber therein, and said metal element having an opening to afford access to the dielectric wall, and means to connect the ends of the resistance wire with the metal elements, whereby the engagement of said metal elements with two spaced live terminals of an electric circuit causes current to flow through said length of resistance wire.

8. An igniter of the character described comprising, a handle member, an electrical resistance element in the form of a coiled wire, means carried by the handle member to support the resistance element in substantially a flat plane with both its sides accessible for use, and metal frames disposed about the or the resistance element to protect the edges of the element while leaving its sides free and accessible, said metal frames being xed to the handle member in electrically spaced relationship and each being connected to one end of the resistance element, whereby said frames afford terminals for 'the ends of the resistance element engageable with the live terminals of an electrical circuit to connect the resistance element with the lrcuit to cause the resistance element to heat up.

9. A cigar and cigarette lighter unit comprising, a handle member, an electrical resistance element in the form of a coiled wire, a support carried by the handle member and on which the resistance element is wound with portions thereof in substantially two parallel flat planes both of which are accessible for use, and termifor the ends of the resistance element carried by the handle member and engageable with live terminals for connecting the resistance element with a source of electrical energy to cause the resistance element to heat up, said terminals having parts disposed along the edges of the resistance element to protect said edges of the resistance element.

10. An igniter of the character described comprising, a handle member, a pair of overlying but electrically separated metal frames carried by the handle member to define an enclosure open at two opposite sides, an electrical resistance element in said enclosure with both its sides accessible for use through the open sides of the enclosure, and means to electrically connect the ends of the resistance element with the metal frames so that said frames provide terminals for the resistance element engageable with live terminals of an electric circuit to connect the resistance element with said circuit and cause the resistance element to heat up.

ll. An igniter of the character described comprising, a handle member, a pair of overlying but electrically separated metal frames carried by the handle member to deiine a substantially dat enclosure, dielectric walls closing the openings dened by said frames and forming sides ior said substantially flat enclosure, an electrical resistance element in said enclosure between said dielectric walls and in close proximity thereto, whereby heat from the electrical resistance element is rapidly conducted to a cigar or cigarette held against either of said dielectric walls, and means to electrically connect the ends of the resistance element with the metal frames so that said frames provide terminals for the resistance element engageable with live terminals of an electric circuit to connect the resistance element with the circuit and cause the resistance element to heat up.

l2. An igniter of the character described comprising, a handle member of insulating material, a pair of overlying but electrically separated metal frames carried by and projected from one end portion cf the handle member to define a substantially nat heater enclosure at said end of the handle member, an electrical resistance element in the form of a length of coiled wire, means within said enclosure to support said resistance element in a substantially flat formation between the metal frames with both its sides accessible for use through the openings deiined by the frames, and means to connect one of said frames to each end of the resistance element whereby said frames provide terminals for the resistance element engageable with live contacts for connecting the resistance element in an electric circuit to cause the same to heat up.

13. An igniter unit of the character described comprising, a pair of overlying but electrically separated metal frames defining a substantially flat enclosure, means to maintain said frames properly spaced apart, an electric resistance element in the form of a length of coiled wire, means Within said enclosure defined by the frames to support said resistance element in a substantially flat formation between the frames With its opposite sides accessible for use through the openings of the frames, means to connect each frame to one end of the resistance element whereby the frames provide terminals for the resistance element engageable with electrically live contacts to enable the passage of current through the resistance element, and an insulating handle to enable handling of said igniter and facilitate the engagement of the frames With the electrically live contacts.

14. An igniter device comprising, a receptacle adapted to rest on a supporting surface and having an open topped well, a fiat insulating Wall extending across the bottom of the Well, a pair of angularly shaped electric contacts, each hay ing one leg xed to the bottom external. surface of the insulating Wall and its other leg projecting upwardly through an opening in said insulating wall, the upwardly projecting leg of one contact extending above that of the other and being depressible, an igniter unit comprising, a handle member, a pair of metal frames carried by the handle member in electrically spaced rela tionship but overlying each other to dei-lne a heater enclosure, a heater element disposed in said enclosure with its ends fixed to the metal frames whereby the metal frames form terminals for the heater element, and said ignlter unit being insertable into the Well of the receptacle so 'that one of said frames engages the depressible contact and the other frame engages the other of said contacts upon forced depression of the igniter unit into the Well.

EDGAR M. SORENG. 

